Box-covering machine.



T. H. WIBLB.

- BOX GOVERING MACHINE. I APPLIUATIONIILED OUT. 15, 1908. 91 6 ,078, Patented Mar. 23, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. H. WIBLE, BOX COVERING MAGHIiTB. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15, 1908.

Patented Mar. 23, 190.9.-

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THOMASH. WIBLE, OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO.

BOX-COVERING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 23, 1909.

Application filed October 15, 1308. Serial No. 4519M.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. WIBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Junction, in the county of Mesa and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Box-Covering Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to box making or covering machines, and has for its principal object to provide a device of simple construction to be used in placing the covers on boxes or crates of any description. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this type in which provision is made forplacing the cover in a suitable holder, or carriage, which may be forced down in order to hold the cover in proper po sition on top of the box during the nailing operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cover holding carriage of such construction as to permit the ready placing of the covers in position,

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proport-ions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any'of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of a box covering machine constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View corresponding to a portion of Fig. 2, showing the cover supportingcarriage holding the cover in nailing position. Fig. 41 is a detail perspective view of the carriage and a portion of the frame.

Similar characters of reference are employed to throughout the several figures of the drawmgs.

The working parts of the machine are supported on an approximately chair-shaped frame, comprising a pair of short vertical front standards 10 and elongated vertical rear standards 11 and 12, these being suitably connected at the base by a frame 13 that may rest on the ground or floor. The

indicate corresponding parts front standards 10 are, also, connected by a transversely disposed plate 15, at the central portion of which is a vertical slot 1.6, and at each edge of the slot are secured vertical bars 18 and 19 that preferably extend down to and rest upon the ground or other supporting surface.

The rear standards 11 and l2are connected by upper and lower cross plates 20 and 21, and the upper ends of the front standards are connected to the rear standards by a pair of bars 23 and 24, which, in the operation of the machine, form a supporting table for the box a.

At one side of the main frame is arranged a small detachable table 25, on which the boxes may be placed before or after the nailing operation, this table being used normally to facilitate the work.

The boxes as are positioned by means of an end stop 26' that is secured to and projects above thebar 23 of the table, and by a pair of blocks 27, that are secured to the forward faces of the standards 11 immediately above the upper faces of the bars 23 and 24, so that a box may be accurately placed in position for the reception of the cover or lid.

The inner faces of the two standards 11 and 12 are provided with vertical grooves 30 which are arranged for the reception of the edge portions of the vertically slidable frame 31 that may be formed of any suitable material. This frame is normally held in elevated position by a counter-weight 32 that slides in a guideway 33 secured to the rear of the frame and is connected to the slidable frame 31 by a flexible member 34 that passes over the sheave 35 journaled on the cross plate 20.

Secured to the side members of the frame 31 are two plates or brackets 38 of a length greater than the width of the cover to be ap plied to the box, andthe lower edges of these plates or brackets are provided with grooves 39 in which the cover y is placed, said cover being formed of one or more sections, and of any. material. The outer ends of the plates or brackets are connected by a cross bar 40 at the central portion of which is a notch or recess 41 that is arranged for the reception of a straining bar 42, the rear edge of which is removably seated in a socket 43 carried by the central portion of the vertically slidable frame 31. The upper edge of the straining bar is arranged in a horizontal plane slightly above the horizontal plane of the bases of the recesses 39 when the cover to be applied is of veneer or other thin material, so that the cover will be slightly arched in the direction of its length, but only to such an extent as will serve to hold the cover rigidly in place on thecarriage or support, and when the cover is formed of thicker or heavier material the horizontal planes of the straining bar and the bases of recesses 39 may be correspondingly altered.

Fitted to the lower frame member 13 is a pedal lever 46 that is connected by a chain or similar member 47 to the lower portion of the vertically slidable frame 31. Near the outer end of the pedal lever is secured a pawl blade 48 that is arranged to engage with the teeth of a locking ratchet 50 that is carried by the vertical bar 19, so that by depressing the pedal lever, the lid carrying frame may be brought down against the resistance offered by the counter-weight 32 and any desired degree of force may be exercised in holding the lid or cover against the top of the box while the parts may be locked in the desired posi tion by the engagement of the pawl plate 48 with the ratchet 50.

In order to assist in positioning the cover member or members, a stop block 51 is secured to and projects from the standard 11, this block being arranged in horizontal alinement with the lower edges of the plates or brackets 38 when the carriage is elevated, and the end of the cover may be brought against this stop block in order to insure its being placed properly in the carriage.

In operation, the box is placed on the table 25, or on the table formed by the bars 23 and 24, and may then be packed. The cover is placed in position over the straining bar, and with its ends projecting under the frames or brackets 38, While the carriage is in elevated position. The carriage is. then pulled down by the pedal lever, and the latter is looked as previously described, after which nails or other securing devices may be passed through the lid or cover. The straining bar is then withdrau n in the direction of its length and after the carriage is elevated, may be readily replaced in position for the reception of another cover.

While the device may be used. for the covering of boxes of any type, it is found especially advantageous in the boxing of peaches and fruit in general.

What is claimed is 1. In a box covering machine, a support for the box, a cover supporting carriage, and

means for moving the carriage downward to place the cover in position on the box.

- 2. In a machine of the class described, a

l t l 1 box support, a cover supporting carriage, means for moving the carriage donnward to force the cover against the top of the box, and means for locking the carriage in. the depressed position.

3. In a machine of the class described, a box support, a cover carriage, means for operating the carriage, and a straining bar forming a support for retaining the cover in. position on the carriage.

4. In a machine of the class described, a cover carriage including a removable straining bar arranged to pass under the cover at a point between the ends thereof.

5. In a machine of the class described, a box support, a vertically guided cover carriage including a pair of spaced plates or brackets arranged to engage the cover near the ends thereof, and a removable straining bar arranged to support the central portion of the cover.

6. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a box support, a vertically guided carriage in said frame, and including a pair of spaced plates or brackets having bottom recesses for the reception of the end portions of the cover, a cross bar connecting the front portions of the plates or brackets andv provided with an approximately central recess, a socket on the carriage, and a straining bar removably supported in the socket and recess.

'7. In a machine of the class described, a main frame having a table for the reception of the box and provided \iith stops for positioning the box, said frame having vertically grooved members, a vertically slidable frame mounted in said grooved members, a counter-weight tending to hold the vertically slidable frame in elevated position, a pedal lever connected to said vertically slidable frame, a locking ratchet for the pedal lever, a pair of plates projecting from the vertically slid able frame and provided with bottom recesses for the reception of the end portions of the cover, a socket member carried. by the frame, a recessed cross bar connecting the front ends of the plate, a movable straining bar carried by the socket and recess, and a stop block secured to the main frame for positioning the cover.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. VVIBLIC.

Vfitnesses HENRY WALLnn, EDWARD B. VVILSON. 

